Loan agreements, like any contract, reflect an "offer," the "acceptance of the offer," "consideration," and can only involve situations that are "legal" (a term loan agreement involving heroin drug sales is not "legal"). Loan agreements are documented via their commitment letters, agreements that reflect the understandings reached between the involved parties, a promissory note, and a collateral agreement (such as a mortgage or a personal guarantee). Loan agreements offered by regulated banks are different from those that are offered by finance companies in that banks receive a "banking charter" granted as a privilege and involving the "public trust."

One contract that you will need to have a working knowledge of is a construction loan agreement. Let's take a look at what a construction loan agreement is and why having one is so important.

It is important to note that some banks do report deferred payments as delinquent. Therefore, it is crucial to ask lenders how they report to credit bureaus before entering into a contract. Payments reported as past due can reduce FICO scores. Depending on credit scores, a reduction of ten points can place debtors in a lower credit category; making it difficult to obtain credit in the future.

Along with the fundamental requirements in the loan agreement, both local and national laws of government applicable in the loan must similarly be included. Likewise, there are loan types that require bank regulations so this should be included in the agreement as well. You will find that there are a lot of other provisions for different types of loans. It is imperative that you know about them and get them included in the agreement. If you are not familiar with the provisions for each different loan.

The loan deferment process involves contacting the lender, submitting a deferment application, and undergoing the application process. The actual process can vary by lender. Other factors taken into account include the borrower's credit history, type of loan, and number of payments being deferred. Approval can take less than 24 hours to several weeks.